[The Grand View Garden Chronicles of the Imperial Harem] Chapter 105: Actor Flatters, Clinging to Life; Maid Whispers, Her Springtime Thoughts Revealed (Bonus Content)

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Chapter 105: Actor's Flattery Leads to a Moment of Desire, Maid's Whispers
Reveal Springtime Thoughts The next day, Feng Ziying rose, and Yun'er helped him wash and eat breakfast. He then straightened his hat and belt, summoned
his servants to accompany him, and left Yun'er's quarters to report to the Court of Imperial Sacrifices.
After reading the daily reports and meeting with several minor officials, he ordered his men to "bring the remaining letters from the concubines who had committed crimes in the past
for review; we need to investigate cases." Around noon, seeing an opening, he prepared to go to the Shuntian Prefecture for his business. Just as he reached
the gate, he happened to see Little Sula, the eunuch from the Imperial Household Department who was in charge of procuring stationery for the inner palace, coming to collect his token. Remembering something, he stopped
Little Sula and asked, "These days, I see you all becoming increasingly careless in your duties. The first time
I saw the scrolls you delivered to the Fifth Prince's garden outside, you didn't even use bookcases, just stacked them in boxes.
What kind of decorum is this? Is there a separate record or register? The Imperial Palace will also need to keep the originals. If they get mixed up or lost, you
lot will be punished severely. This Forbidden City is ruined by you bunch of unruly servants, leaving things scattered
everywhere. When I have time, I will definitely report this to the Fifth Prince and the Grand Council, and give you all a good talking-to."
Little Sula was used to serving these courtiers and their servants, and in a few glances, he had already figured out what he meant. At that
time, all writings and literature were controlled by the imperial court, for three reasons: to regulate people's minds, to keep the populace ignorant, and to promote the sacred teachings. Books
containing obscene poems, erotic illustrations, historical records
of love and lust, short tales, or even those teaching girls strange and lewd behavior, unusual allure, and servile virtues, were already despised by scholars and officials and were absolutely forbidden from circulating
outside the court.
However, the eunuchs of the imperial palace, though impotent, were adept at understanding their masters' temperaments. They knew that
the more respectable the family—the imperial family, princes, ministers, dukes, and high-ranking officials—the more likely their unfilial sons were to indulge in
such practices. Furthermore, some scholars, who loved their wives, concubines, and sex slaves, using every means to please them, yet
remaining outwardly dignified and self-possessed, unable to express their desires openly, were even more inclined to use such books to educate their daughters and servants in the palace and their households
. Not to mention the descendants of princes and nobles, who merely inherited their ancestors' achievements, incapable of lifting a finger or shouldering
any real responsibility, knowing nothing but "love and sex"... Therefore, it has always been customary in the imperial palace to collect such scrolls, categorize them,
register them, and make copies, though this is not openly stated, but rather a blatant lie, using
the pretext of "collecting scrolls from all over the land" and "examining classics" to store them. Besides serving the emperor's inner palace, eunuchs also secretly
sent copies to noble families as tribute. However, now, there is a prince, the Fifth Prince Hongzhou, who
is a frivolous and unruly man, showing no restraint whatsoever, frequently issuing orders to the Imperial Household Department to
present such scrolls to the Grand View Garden for his sex slave "mistress" Xue Baochai to review and distribute, clearly displaying
the attitude of "this prince is here to train his female slave." The Imperial Household Department, astonished, could only be more cautious and obsequious,
searching everywhere... Little Sula, the eunuch, pondered: This kind of thing, no matter how you try to put it, is difficult to say. Officials are
all lustful, yet they all claim they aren't; that's the proper way. Since Lord Feng is asking now, it's probably because the
household needs something, and he's using this as an excuse to guide him along this topic.
This eunuch, being a seasoned palace official, quickly came up with another idea. He immediately changed to an obsequious smile and said, "Your Excellency
, please rest assured, the books for the Imperial Household Department are all in book form...
Even those sent to the Fifth Prince's garden are copied and printed, one book printed in five copies. The originals are cataloged and stored, not to be opened without permission; this is an
old rule of the Imperial Household Department. How could this servant dare to be negligent..." As he spoke, he took a small booklet from his boot and opened it, reading aloud:
"The books sent to the Fifth Prince's garden so far total sixty-five kinds, two hundred and forty-two volumes... including 'The Old Stories of Taizhen'..."
"Three volumes each of 'Chanjuan Yeyu' and 'Luoshan Nongyu,'
three volumes each of 'Bai Xiu Jing,' 'Luo Zhenzhu,' and 'Chanjuan Lu'..."
Feng Ziying had only thought of this casually as he was leaving, but hearing the eunuch's rambling, he waved his hand and
laughed as he stepped out the door, "You scoundrel, do you expect me to read them volume by volume? Sixty-five kinds, how long will it take me to listen to
that? Send me a list later, I need to check them..."
The eunuch walked a few steps with him and laughed, "Yes, yes, there are also a few rare manuscript copies in there. Send them over
so that Your Excellency can check them together, consider it a spot check... If Your Excellency finds any mistakes, just break my legs
..."
Feng Ziying found it amusing, spat and cursed twice more, then left the eunuch behind, went out onto the street, and seeing that it was still early, he called
for a small sedan chair to go to Shuntian Prefecture to see Prefect Lu Wuzhi, saying that he wanted to see the "Little Yan
Sheng" he had imprisoned in the past. While offering numerous compliments, Lu Wuzhi knew it was a secret of the Prince's residence and shouldn't be disturbed, so he naturally let Feng Ziying
speak.
Speaking of which, this young Yan Sheng was quite pitiful. He was originally a young female lead in the famous "Shouxi Troupe" of the Beijing Opera, a performer
who frequented noble families and was a person of some standing. By a twist of fate, he was mistakenly
arrested by Feng Ziying and even implicated Liu Xianglian, causing a massive scandal in the Grand View Garden, the Prince's temporary palace; the punishment of You Sanjie,
Liu Xianglian's escape, and ultimately, the suicide of his beloved concubine Qin Keqing in the Tianxiang Tower all stemmed from this incident. Although it
was a "mistaken arrest" for him, he was indeed a "thief" after all, having stolen antiques from the Grand View Garden.
Feng Ziying's arrest of him on charges of theft wasn't entirely unjust. Lu Wuzhi, the prefect of Shuntian Prefecture, was clever and cunning, unwilling to give a lenient
sentence or a severe punishment, only vaguely assigning him hard labor in prison. This young Yan Sheng had also begged the former head of the Shouxi Opera Troupe
and several of his former patrons to bribe officials, spending all the gold and silver he had accumulated over the years in the Shuntian Prefecture. Yet, this
only brought him some leniency in prison, and he was still unable to leave. For seven or eight months in prison, being a
handsome actor, he was naturally coerced into serving the prison guards, being raped and sexually exploited. He
was once a famous actor in the capital, and knew many male and female patrons. Out of necessity, he also acted as a pimp for some prison guards,
clerks, and jailers, luring young boys and girls to the Shuntian Prefecture prison to "work." In his
past glory days, this young Yan Sheng considered himself a refined actor, only occasionally providing
pleasure for princes and nobles. Now, however, he was utterly filthy, suffering day and night, neither human nor ghost;
the misery he endured was indescribable.
Although the Shouxi Troupe was a theatrical troupe, they were adept at dealing with princes and nobles and had connections within the Six Ministries, making them quite a force to be reckoned with in the capital.
The Shouxi Troupe was a powerful and influential force in the Beijing opera world, a group of actors whose influence was so great that ordinary government offices dared not provoke them. Their activities included lending money, forcibly
selling young actors, monopolizing the market, and raping girls; they also frequently dealt in stolen goods, intervened in lawsuits, and even sold official titles and salaries
. When these actors were at their peak, they considered themselves "superior men," and in restaurants and teahouses,
they would swagger around, discussing all the affairs of the imperial court, gossiping about the secrets of princes and nobles, kicking things, and
flattering others—a truly impressive display of power. However, everyone in the capital
knew that the Shouxi Troupe had offended the Fifth Prince and Prince He. Even though Hongzhou, considering his own high status, had not yet committed any atrocities, what government office, ministry, nobleman,
or duke would dare to risk displeasing this most outrageous and unconventional prince for the sake of an opera troupe
? In an instant, the tree fell and the monkeys scattered; birds flew to their respective forests. Those "patrons" who had once fawned over him were
now like strangers. The troupe was long gone, the former glory vanished, and all the actors with any talent had gone their separate ways.
Liu Xianglian's whereabouts were unknown, and the troupe leader of the Shouxi Troupe had fled south to Guangdong and Guangxi to seek a living. In the end, only this unfortunate fellow,
Xiao Yan, was trapped in the Shuntian Prefecture prison, neither alive nor dead. Only now did he realize that there were heavens beyond heavens and people beyond people.
The real imperial family and nobles, even their minor squabbles and grudges, were not something people of his status could afford to provoke. In prison, he
could only sigh to himself, "A nobleman's glance can toil the common people for years; a king's encounter can make the nobles all absurd;
a smile from the emperor can wound even kings and nobles..." But there was nothing he could do. He only hoped that in two years, when the storm had died down, he could beg
the Lu family for a way out, leave this place, and head south, never to set foot in the capital again.
Even today, Feng Ziying had come to the prison to see him. Seeing this "Little Yan Sheng," once a handsome
young man, now imprisoned for over half a year, his appearance haggard, filthy, and utterly disfigured, he felt
seven parts disgust and three parts pity, yet he simply sat there, silent for half a day. Little
Yan Sheng, utterly unsure whether this living devil's arrival was a blessing or a curse, could only kneel timidly and force a smile...
After a long while, Feng Ziying seemed to have figured something out. Thinking that this was merely a caged bird, and there was no point in
wasting words, he simply uttered a few bland official platitudes with a blank face, then said, "...I see you
still have some talent to offer, and you're an actor, so I'm finding you a way to survive. The Emperor is currently unwell, and all the opera troupes in the capital
have been disbanded. Coincidentally, there is a..." The important official who can compose poetry... His family is preparing for his wife's birthday celebration, but they're short of a
troupe of entertainers. He boasts that he won't listen to familiar plays, he only wants something new... I have a few good-for-nothing rascals under my command
. They mentioned a legendary script. You can find a few of your old friends from the opera world, the ones who are good-looking, and have them
prepare it carefully and attentively. Go and serve that nobleman well tomorrow... and you'll make amends. Lord Lu will also have some face.
He might lift a finger, and maybe you can get out of here sooner."
The young Yan Sheng, at the moment of his release from prison, would be overjoyed even to be forced into servitude, let alone
rehearsing a play, something he was already quite familiar with. He wept uncontrollably, kowtowing and thanking Feng Ziying profusely, demanding the script. Feng Ziying spat
in his face and scolded, "You scoundrel! If I had a script, what would I need you for… There's only one story, something like 'Yang
Fei Ling Xiang.' It's an old story in your opera world, but you're young and may not have rehearsed it. Later… you
can find a few experienced opera teachers to discuss it with, and put together a script… Of course… this play…" "To be romantic,
one must have some romantic undertones, lest it violate national laws. Hiring someone outside to perform is even more problematic, as some might say it's immoral… Now,
you're already under punishment, this is just a trial performance. That high-ranking official is in charge of literary and dramatic matters; let him see it, consider it a test
. If the performance is good, then so be it; if the officials say it's still inappropriate… then it'll only be one performance."
Xiao Yan was confused, feeling that there seemed to be some hidden meaning in this performance. But for now, he just wanted to get out. He
figured it was just some refined nobleman wanting to see a romantic play; it didn't mean much to him at the moment. Listening
to Feng Ziying's tone, it seemed he wanted to admit that such a script originally existed. He figured the official was unwilling to take responsibility,
and he didn't know which nobleman he was flattering. So, he readily agreed, flattering him: "I've heard of 'Yang Guifei Lingxiang,' it
's an old play in my field. However, I'm not very talented and have never acted in it. But I do know a few pretty girls who
are new to opera, with clear accents and smooth movements. I'll find a few old teachers to instruct them, and we'll all rehearse and perform it for
your...entertainment, sir." Feng Ziying knew he was just spouting nonsense to survive, so he smiled and said nothing more. He only
said he'd have his servant bring the script draft later, and
that Xiao Yansheng could go out and find people to rehearse. He refused to see the Lu family again, leaving only this message. Lu Wuzhi naturally had no objections, and sent a constable to release Xiao Yansheng
so he could go home, instructing the neighbors to keep a close watch on him.
After finishing his business, Feng Ziying returned to his residence, only to find that two carts
of willow-leaf and plum-blossom charcoal cakes, a tribute from Shengjing for early spring, had arrived at Chongwen Gate. The Emperor's Office was instructed to distribute them to the princes and dukes, and the fact that Chongwen Gate delivered them to his residence was a clear
indication of a bribe. He knew this meant "first the Fifth Prince." Seeing that it was getting late, he pondered for a long time and decided
to personally escort the carts to the Grand View Garden. He hoped to take the opportunity to see Hongzhou again, firstly to listen to his conversation, gauge
the situation, and perhaps strike up a conversation with him to gauge his master's thoughts; secondly, to find an opportunity to
use the pretext of "wanting a servant" to strike up a conversation with the prince; and thirdly, even if none of these options were suitable,
he hoped to at least have a chance to see Qingwen again.
But the charcoal cart was heavy and could only be pulled by horses. It was not appropriate to whip and shout to urge it to
move faster in the capital. The cart meandered all the way to Quesi Gate, but the sky was gradually darkening as the sun began to set... The palace maids and eunuchs were all people he
had bribed in his daily life, so the message was naturally sent to the second gate. Qingwen did not come out, but Bihen, a little maid from Yihong Courtyard, finally
arrived. This girl, Bihen, dressed in a light green cotton-padded jacket with pink trim and a plain pleated skirt, was also quite graceful.
She greeted Feng Ziying with a smile and a curtsy, saying, "It's Master Feng. Our sister Xiren said that our mistress is in the mood
to stroll in the garden right now, and we servants shouldn't follow her to inquire. Since you are an important guest, if you
have something urgent, please have some tea at the Quesi Gate. We'll go find our mistress, but it's difficult to set a time.
If it's not too urgent, perhaps we can leave a message and meet again tomorrow." Feng Ziying knew that this
girl named Xiren was actually one of Feng Jie's confidantes, one of her most reliable people. Since she said this, he naturally understood her intentions.
Hongzhou had been distant lately, so she advised herself not to bother him with trivial matters.
He readily agreed, saying, "It's just some necessities, nothing important. You can return them to your young ladies and
concubines; there's no need to report back to the master. I'll come to pay my respects again in a couple of days." He left the charcoal cart behind and
departed with his entourage.
Bihen, young and carefree, was unaware of his inner turmoil but didn't dwell on it. She and several maids and
eunuchs counted the plum blossom charcoal cakes before returning to Yihong Courtyard. There, she saw Xiren
sitting in the front hall with Madam Wang and Aunt Xue, spinning yarn. She went in to report and then smiled, saying, "Sister said that Lord Feng is truly sincere; it
's just charcoal cakes for the stove, yet it's so kind of him to personally bring them..."
Xiren, however, was simply spinning a few balls of yarn with Madam Wang and Aunt Xue in their spare time. When Bihen entered and spoke, her
tone was still that of a polite servant. Madam Wang and Aunt Xue, having grown accustomed to this, remained seated, offering only a slight smile
and a slight bow in return. Although Bihen was young, had never served Hongzhou, and was still a virgin, in the past
, when the Yihong Courtyard was established, Qingwen, Sheyue, Bihen, and Qiuwen all held the status of servants. Even though
one of the sisters' daughters was a mistress and the other a concubine, Hongzhou himself called them "lowly servants without rank." They
were initially apprehensive, having to bow to the maids of Yihong, only gradually
calming down after repeated explanations from Fengjie and Xiren. However, they dared not act arrogantly in front of Xiren. Hearing Bihen speak, Madam Wang
shook her head with a helpless smile, glancing at Xiren, while Aunt Xue was even more unable to interject. Xiren laughed, "What do you know, you little rascal?
Those charcoal cakes are called Willow Leaf Plum Blossom. They're made from black pine and plum wood from beyond the Great Wall, then carved into plum blossom
cakes, crescent cakes, pine cone cakes... They're small and cute, and they smell like plum blossoms when they burn.
They're quite a precious thing... They're best used in spring. I'm afraid you haven't used them yet... We can't make the decision. We'll have
to ask the two concubines to see how to distribute them..."
Bihen pouted, "Since they're precious... why did you ask me to persuade him to go back? The master is just
taking a walk in the garden. He can just look for him. I should at least let the master know. Whether the master wants to see him or not is his business..."
Xiren's expression changed slightly, but she still smiled, "The master has been in Zhenxia Residence since lunch and hasn't come out
... Consort Yun isn't feeling well right now, and the master is with her. Who knows what kind of scenery is going on inside. " "Well, you're going
in to report with some charcoal briquettes or coal briquettes? Even if I let you in, would Yuanyang and the others be so clueless as to let you
in?"
Aunt Xue laughed, "Miss Xiren is so thoughtful. It's just that Lord Feng must have had a hard time coming and going..."
Madam Wang, however, was kind-hearted and sighed, "Actually, if you ask me, although it's a small matter, it's still
good to see if it's convenient for the master. If it is, it's good to send a message when you have the chance, as it would be doing your part for Lord Feng... Alas,
the master is, after all, a prince. Lord Feng or Lord Ma are both people who handle affairs outside. The master
... should spend more time with them discussing important matters and go out more often... Men always have important things
to do. The pleasures in the garden can't be avoided, so there's no rush..."
Xiren quickly composed herself and agreed, but she knew Madam Wang's intentions.
To be honest, Hongzhou inexplicably and abruptly bestowed the title of "Consort" upon Yuanchun yesterday. With Consort Qing
gone, only two consorts remain in the garden: one is Wang Furen's own niece, Fengjie, who used to help Wang Furen manage
the household; the other is her own eldest daughter, blood relatives. Given this close favor and privilege, she naturally
feels comforted and at ease. However, it's absurd that although Hongzhou bestowed the title upon Yuanchun, in reality, since Consort Yuanchun entered the garden over half a
month ago, he hasn't even seen her once, let alone gone to the Liaofeng Pavilion to have his way with her. Yuanchun
is also bold and eccentric; upon hearing the news, she neither went to the Gu'en Hall to express her gratitude nor to see Fengjie to inform her. Since the day before yesterday,
she has remained holed up in the Liaofeng Pavilion. Last night, Wang Furen even went to the Liaofeng Pavilion to see her once, but no one
knows what the mother and daughter discussed. Although Xiren was quiet by nature, the garden was frequented by eunuchs from the three mansions, and rumors
inevitably reached her ears. A while ago, it was said that Yuan Chun's entry into the garden violated the emperor's taboo, and the censors outside
impeached her. If the emperor hadn't been ill, even her master, Hongzhou, would
likely have been reprimanded and punished. Yuan Chun was given the reputation of being a "femme fatale who harmed her master," and some in the garden even spread rumors that Hongzhou was afraid and wanted to send Yuan Chun "back
"... But the very next day, she was made a concubine. Even a few days ago, a young eunuch, drunk and rambling, said
that Yuan Chun actually wanted to "preserve her chastity for the emperor," and although she was now deposed, she still valued her former status as a concubine and
would never submit to Hongzhou. She had already written a suicide note, saying that if Hongzhou ever raped her, she would commit suicide to atone for her sins to the emperor...
Naturally, Fengjie took that young eunuch back to the Imperial Household Department, dragged him outside the second gate, and beat him to death. In truth, with Xiren's keen intellect
and sharp eyes, and seeing Yuanchun's gentle and dignified demeanor, and her joyful interactions with the other women in the garden, she naturally knew this was just
a rumor. Even if Yuanchun were proud, given her current status, she would likely willingly become Hongzhou's sex slave, and serving him with her body
goes without saying. However, the more rumors circulated, the more likely they were to become accepted as truth. While others might be unconcerned, Lady Wang would inevitably
feel anxious and would naturally hope that Hongzhou would "go out more and temporarily put aside the troubles in the garden"... As for Yuanchun becoming a concubine,
she would inevitably suffer rape and humiliation, being used by Hongzhou for his sexual pleasure. The shame of mother and daughter both losing their virginity and becoming slaves was an unspoken
consequence, and it was natural for her to try to deflect and clear her name.
Xiren, being naturally docile, didn't argue when she heard Madam Wang say this. She remained respectful and said, "You're right, Madam
. I'm still young. Since you say so, Bihen, go to the outside of Zhenxia Residence and carefully look around
and inquire. If the master is there and there's nothing else, sneak a peek and tell Yuanyang and Jinchuan, and let Sister Yuanyang decide
whether or not to report back to the master."
Bihen was used to going to Zhenxia Residence, but she said, "How can I go there empty-handed? After all, that's Yun
Xiaozhu's room. Sister, you should at least say something... If Cuimo and Cuilou ask, I'll just be wasting my breath
..." Xiren smiled and said, "It was my oversight. Here, you go and get that pound of almonds with gray tobacco skin outside."
Bihen had no choice but to agree. Seeing that the sun was approaching the west, she called a little maid to accompany her, took the packet of
almonds wrapped in oiled paper, and the two of them went to Zhenxia Residence from the back gate of Yihong Courtyard to investigate. But when they arrived at Zhenxia Residence, at the entrance...
Seeing that Hongzhou's personal maid, Nu'er, was not guarding the door, she knew that Hongzhou had already left.
Bihen stepped inside and told the maid to go back inside. Soon, Cuimo came out to greet her. Although Cuimo had been with Xiangyun since childhood,
she and Bihen were both servants raised in the same old house and were already on good terms. She greeted Bihen with a smile and a handshake. Bihen,
naturally, didn't ask about Hongzhou's whereabouts first, but only inquired about Xiangyun's well-being, saying that she would bring almonds next month so she could make soup for Xiangyun.
The two women sat intimately in Nu'er's room. Bihen then asked, "What's wrong with Miss Yun
... She keeps saying she's unwell and sleeps a lot. Can't even the best imperial physicians figure out what's wrong?"
Cuimo sighed, "It's so kind of you all to think of her... Our young lady has been like this since last autumn, and now that
the New Year is over, she's gotten even worse. She sleeps for several hours every day..." She was close to Bihen, and after looking around to make sure no
one was around, she blushed and whispered, "Whenever she gets up, besides eating something and reading for a while, she's
lazy... or she... or she... wants us to keep her company... to relax..."
Upon hearing this, Bihen also blushed. Nowadays, in the garden, the ladies of each household are under Hongzhou's orders, and with the loneliness of the palace
, it's common for women to engage in lesbian relations and play with the maids in their rooms. Leaving aside others, even Xiren, who was originally
of equal rank and seniority with the other maids of Yihong Garden, was given the prestigious title of "Miss." At first, she was too embarrassed to show it. Later, it was Fengjie who
reprimanded her, saying that it was not only for the superiors to humiliate and molest those below them, but also a rule of the garden.
Although the maids in Yihong Garden were all former sisters of the same generation, they should all follow this rule. So every few days, Xiren would send Musk Moon, Autumn Pattern, and Zhui'er
, along with herself and a few other pretty girls, to her room to keep her company. Naturally, they would undress and expose
themselves to Xiren for "playing." Although Bihen was also ashamed, she was young and curious, bound by the rules, and
she was also close to Xiren. So she endured the humiliation and served her, but secretly she also enjoyed the pleasure of
the intimate physical contact between the young women.
Hearing Cui Mo's words, Xiang Yun, being a young lady from a prominent family and now the mistress of the garden,
naturally felt it was only natural for Cui Mo and Cui Lou, who had served her since childhood, to use their bodies to please her. Xiang Yun could only blush and
ask, "What's wrong with that? We servants, letting our mistress play with our bodies... what's the big deal?
There are so many pretty girls in the garden... do you only want your master to... reward you?"
Cui Mo spat. She had already lost her virginity to Hong Zhou, but she knew it was just
a casual act by her master when he was playing with Xiang Yun, a mere "add-on dish." For her,
it was her first time, her virginity, a poignant and shameful experience; but for her master, it was nothing more than a trivial
matter. In comparison, Hong Zhou hadn't even had a chance to deflower Bi Hen, which was truly lamentable
. Such matters, even for a young lady, are both shameful and infatuated. Cui Mo blushed, lowered her head,
and was slightly lost in thought before saying, "What do you know? I'm not afraid of anything else, I'm afraid the doctor will also diagnose something
bad. I just think that young ladies are too 'desirable' and can't say it out loud, which would delay our young lady's health
... Let's not talk about that now... I know you came because of Sister Xi Ren's good intentions... You must also be checking if the mistress
is here?"
Bi Hen was taken aback and was about to say something joking, "What?... ", but Cui Mo waved her hand with a smile and said, "
That hussy Xi Ren is always so clever and presumptuous, always trying to deny everything. Actually, everyone in the garden knows she's Sister Feng's informant
, asking about this today and that tomorrow... It's hard for her to be so tactful and discreet." We need to handle the two ladies properly
. Actually, in my opinion, it's pointless to explain it all... Sister Feng... do you still think you
can control Master Lian like you did back in the manor? Do you think it's so easy to know the master's whereabouts and likes and
dislikes? Don't offend the master and suffer the consequences..."
Bihen nodded and sighed, "You're absolutely right, that's how it is when you think about it... But we're all just
lowly servants after all, and the master doesn't care, so it's easier to see things clearly. They have young ladies and mistresses above them... After being rich
and honored for so long, and with the master's favor, it's easy to become a little infatuated, and things get out of control... What
that strange girl Miaoyu said the other day was quite good, something like... 'Once you enter the mortal world, you're bewildered by all the colors...'"
Cuimo also recited, "Once you enter the mortal world, you're bewildered by all the colors..." After a moment of contemplation, she sighed and smiled:
"Don't get any ideas, it's none of our business. If we were on good terms, I would have told you, and you would have reported back
. The master came after lunch... You know where we are, our young ladies usually
take a nap in the afternoon... When the master came, we weren't allowed to wake them, but went to their bedrooms to peek..."
Bihen asked curiously, "So the master came, and your young lady was asleep? Isn't that impolite?"
Cuimo chuckled, her cheeks flushing red, and adjusted her sash before saying, "You silly girl
... you're still young and haven't seen much, you don't understand. In front of the master,
what's the value of 'etiquette' for us sex slave maids? The master doesn't care. Our young lady is asleep... if the master sees her, that's etiquette
..."
Bihen thought for a moment, her face also turning red, and then murmured something before spitting out, "What's so interesting about sleeping?
Everyone sleeps!"
Cuimo's voice grew softer and softer, her cheeks flushing even more. "Hot," she thought for a moment before saying, "You
didn't see our young mistress sleeping... First, she's dressed so beautifully, so warm and delicate; second, she
's a restless sleeper, always with her shoulders and arms exposed, or her toes and calves sticking out, like a little child. I usually have to
tuck her in several times a night... Today was just the right time. When the mistress went in, she was breathing softly and talking in her sleep
, probably because the warmth of the stove in the room had burned her heart." Her arms were all exposed... her upper body... even
the chain strap of her pocket was hanging askew... there was some movement under the covers, and our mistress's... area...
was already quite alluring; with the covers pressing down and her upper body exposed, it was even more captivating...
even we servants would be mesmerized by that sight, let alone men..."
Bihen spat, then casually thought of Xiangyun's half-naked sleeping figure, her cheeks flushed like peaches. She composed herself before asking,
"And what about the mistress?"
Cuimo glanced at her, giggled, and tapped her forehead with her finger, saying, "You silly girl, you're really..."
"Well... what else can the master do? Of course, he'll call us out so he... can enjoy himself... I just don't know if he'll
wake us up first, or just... sigh... I can't say for sure..."
Bihen and Cuimo were slightly different. At sixteen, she was at the age of budding romance, and
while she didn't say she didn't want to, she had secretly thought about such matters a few times. In the past, she served the
gentle young master Baoyu of the Jia family. Baoyu was a simpleton, never shying away from physical intimacy, embracing this one, touching
that one, gentle and considerate, humble and courteous, yet never lewd. Who would believe that the maids of Yihong hadn't considered offering themselves to Baoyu
for his pleasure, hoping to become his concubines? Now, she could only be Hongzhou's slave in the garden, her only
man being Hongzhou. She was no longer afraid of any master or young master taking advantage of her, yet she had never served
Hongzhou, a pure virgin. Even with her status and beauty, though outstanding among ordinary people,
she considered herself mediocre in the Grand View Garden… There were still many girls in the garden who hadn't lost their virginity, and she wondered when it would
be her turn. Listening to Cui Mo's words, she couldn't help but imagine Xiang Yun sleeping naked, her jade-like body sprawled out
, her eyes shyly closed. Even if she wasn't feeling well, in her hazy state, she feared that Hong Zhou would again drug and molest her, subjecting her to
sexual acts—a unique kind of allure, each with their own desires. She seemed to understand, yet not quite, the pleasures of lovemaking, the intertwining of breasts and thighs, the passionate lovemaking, the moans and gasps, the struggles
—she wondered how humiliating it would be. And
what a bittersweet feeling... A wave of indescribable shame and confusion washed over her... After a long
while, she swallowed hard and forced herself to get down to business, saying, "Then... why did Master leave again? Since... why didn't you
young mistresses stay for dinner? Where is Master going right now?"
Cui Mo was more cautious, glancing around to make sure no one was watching before whispering, "Master said she wanted to leave, should I stop her?
I'm not worthy of asking where Master is going. I only vaguely heard Yu Chuan say... it seems...
Master went to Liao Feng Pavilion. Judging by the time, she's probably having dinner there, and maybe even resting there."
Bi Hen was also startled. In the past few days, the only "major event in the garden" was Hong Zhou's conferment of Yuan Chun as a concubine. Not to
mention Feng Jie, Madam Wang, Bao Chai, Xi Ren, and others were naturally worried, even the maids and servants in the garden often
discussed it. All things considered, since Yuan Chun entered the garden, Hong Zhou and she had never even met, yet he was specially granted the title of concubine;
rumors abounded, with all sorts of things said. And Yuan Chun herself was strange, neither coming to express her gratitude nor visiting the other rooms.
Even the maids like Bi Hen couldn't help but harbor the strange thought that "the young lady will eventually be sent back by her master"...
Hearing that Hong Zhou had finally gone to Liaofeng Pavilion, there was a strange feeling of "the culmination of lovemaking," and she didn't know
whether to breathe a sigh of relief, worry for Yuan Chun... or even feel a little happy? She truly couldn't explain her own
feelings.
To find out how Hong Zhou went to Liaofeng Pavilion and how he met Yuan Chun, please wait for the next chapter.
This is truly:
The clan manages the state affairs;
Officials in their robes oversee the court;
Actors feign joy and sorrow
; The messengers are like tigers and wolves
; The gatekeepers are calculating;
The lady applies her evening makeup;
Occasionally, she ponders her true
feelings; The fragrance of a young woman lingers...
(To be continued)

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[The Grand View Garden Chronicles of the Imperial Harem] Chapter 105: Actor Flatters, Clinging to Life; Maid Whispers, Her Springtime Thoughts Revealed (Bonus Content)

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